HELP~City Council Responded with ?'s

I live in Aurora Colorado and recently wrote a very lengthy email to all the members of the city council urging them to legalize backyard chickens. Thankfully it looks like I provided quite a bit of information to them, much of which they couldnt argue with in regards to the myths of chickens and the benefits. That being said, I have had a few responses and of those the same questions have come up that I hadnt addressed yet. Please provide any suggestions you have, I want to have as much ammo as possible

"The other unanswered question is what to do with the chickens when their lives come to an end? We can't allow backyard slaughterhouses; you can't be running sick chicks to the vet...what do you do? "

Thank you all for any help! Hopefully we cant get the archaic "no chicken law" removed, stomped on and burned!

Are you talking about meat chickens or just if a chicken is ill or dies? They CAN be taken to the vet if people are willing. If they die they can be buried (assuming you can do that in your area). Not sure what the problem is?

See thats what I was thinking, just like any other pet if the hen gets ill take her to the vet. If she dies, bury her as you would if your dog dies. I dont know why they make it so difficult, chickens can be pets too. I think they are concerned that people will use them for table, and if that is the case wouldnt it make sense to do what other cities have done and just ban slaughtering? If a family REALLY wants to eat them, I am assuming they can take them to a meat processing plant or slaughter house right?

In reply to that question, simply tell them that you will dispose of a deceased chicken the same way anyone disposes of any other dead animal. Add that the average chicken weighs considerably less than the average cat or dog. Assure them that if backyard chickens become ill, they are treated for their illness, usually by the devoted, caring and concerned owner, just as other pets are. Add that usually, chicken owners are more knowledgable about illnesses, treatments, medications and other problems affecting their birds than other pet owners because "running to the vet" is not always an option. Keep plugging, sounds like you are getting somewhere.

just tell them with other pets the body would be appropriatly disposed of and give them the name and address of your vet (after finding out if they will treat chickens). By the way do people who live in areas that ban backyard slaughter still do it but make sure they don't get caught?

I would give them a range of options of how they are disposed of. They can be, depending on your ordinances, buried, incinerated, composted, disposed of by your vet, taken to the local rendering plant.

Thank you everyone for your help with this, you provided some great responses which I included in my email back to city council. With any luck they will review what I have requested and allow it to become a discussion during their next council meeting and if all goes well with that then maybe my chickies and I can come out of the closet!

You might want to make a list of local vets who will treat chickens, and the average office visit cost. Not all vets will treat chickens, and not all avian vets will, either. But, ARE vets who will, and letting your city counsil know about it is useful.